His Holiness the Dalai Lama greeting an elderly nun at the long-life prayer offering to the Dalai Lama by nuns from the five major schools of Tibetan Buddhism and Tibet’s pre-Buddhist religion Bonism have on Mar 1 at the Tsuglakhang, Dharamshala, India. (Photo courtesy: T Choejor/OHHDL)

(TibetanReview.net, Mar02, 2018) – Nuns from the five major schools of Tibetan Buddhism and Tibet’s pre-Buddhist religion Bonism have on Mar 1 made a long-life prayer offering to His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the Tsuglakhang, Dharamshala, India. Their representatives, numbering 875, at the ceremony were stated to have come from more than 40 nunneries across India, Nepal and Bhutan.

The exiled spiritual leader of Tibet was reported to be elated by the nuns’ offering.

“I am very proud of your achievement and encourage all of you to pursue the highest scholarship in Buddhist study. This is the 21st century and we need to understand the Buddha’s teachings in the light of reason. When we study, contemplate and practice the teachings, we need to do so on the basis of reason,” the exile Tibetan administration’s Tibet.net quoted him as saying.

He was further quoted as saying: “In the beginning when I spoke about awarding Geshema degrees, some were doubtful. I clearly told them that Buddha had given equal opportunity for both men and women to pursue Gelongma, and so should be the case for Geshemas.”

While expressing appreciation for the offering, the Dalai Lama was stated to have remarked, “In essence, the most meaningful offering to me would be your unfaltering dedication and service.”

Tibetan Buddhist religious leaders, including the Sherpa Choje, the Drekung Kabgyon, the medium of the Nechung oracle, the Abbot of the Dalai Lama’s Namgyal Monastery and representatives of various Tibetan monasteries, were stated to have attended the ceremony.